New Car : Lexus CT 200h Hatchback

Lexus CT 200h Hatchback

Full 2014 Lexus CT 200h Review

What's New for 2014

The 2014 Lexus CT 200h receives a handful of updates. These include freshened front-end styling, newly available LED headlights and new wheels and a black-painted roof for the F Sport package. Inside, there's a reshaped steering wheel, the latest version of Lexus' Remote Touch infotainment interface and new audio speakers for higher-quality sound.

Introduction

There are stylish, sporty cars, practical cars and fuel-efficient cars, but trying to find one that combines all these qualities can be a tall order. It is, however, one that the 2014 Lexus CT 200h fills quite nicely.

That the CT 200h is stylish will not likely come as a surprise. It remains one of the sleeker-looking small cars on the road, and for 2014, Lexus has freshened the CT 200h's look with the adoption of the corporate spindle-style grille, LED running lights and sportier accents for the available F Sport package. This sense of style doesn't come at the expense of versatility either, as this four-door hatchback is much better suited for the loading of bulky cargo than your typical small sedan.

The CT 200h's high fuel economy is due to its hybrid powertrain. Fitted with essentially the same system that Toyota uses for the Prius, the CT is good for an excellent 42 mpg in combined driving. A major downside to this thriftiness is tepid performance, even by hybrid standards. While the CT 200h handles pretty well around turns, it is extremely slow, and its gasoline engine gets noisy when pressed for maximum acceleration.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2014 Lexus CT 200h is a compact, four-door hybrid hatchback with seating for five. It's offered in a single trim level.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar), split-folding rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface.